The L.A. Galaxy have reached a broadcast agreement to jump from Fox Sports West to Time Warner Cable's fledgling regional sports channels beginning in 2012, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sources told the newspaper that the 10-year, $55 million deal for an undetermined number of games on two channels -- one in English, the other in Spanish.

The local TV deal dwarfs the three-year, $30-million national deal between MLS and NBC and will provide a financial boost for the Galaxy.

“It's a major deal for our team and I'm telling you it never happens without David Beckham,” said AEG president/CEO Tim Leiweke, whose company owns the Galaxy.

Although the team has been the league's marquee franchise since signing Beckham before the 2007 season, it has not been a ratings winner for Fox Sports West, never drawing more than 16,000 homes or a 0.28 rating, according to the Times. In the last few years, ratings have dropped as low as 0.11.

Fox has been paying less than $500,000 a season for the Galaxy's broadcast rights, which included 19 games this year. The Galaxy is the second pro team to jump to Time Warner Cable, following the Lakers, who in February signed a 20-year broadcast deal valued at $3 billion.

The L.A. Daily News reports Fox declined to match the TWC offer only because of the enormous prices -- about $289,000 per game. A source said it would be impossible for TWC to recoup such rights fees with only advertiser dollars, which means it likely will pass on the costs to cable viewers.